As the threat of wildfires looms over Cleveland County, Emergency Manager George Mauldin has stepped up to call on residents to practice extreme caution, this warning comes in response to a Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service, signaling a high danger for fires to erupt due to forecasted wind gusts reaching 40-45 mph across the region this Wednesday, according to the Cleveland County statements.
With the memory of the March 14 wildfires still fresh, which delivered a harsh blow of property damage under similarly perilous weather conditions, local fire chiefs are not taking any chances, expressing concern over the potentially hazardous blend of dry conditions and strong winds that fuel the risk even though state laws prevent the implementation of a county-wide burn ban unless the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identifies the area as being in at least "severe" drought, and currently, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's designation for Cleveland County stands at the "abnormally dry" level, two notches below the necessary threshold.
Despite the legislative constraints which leave the county's hands bound, as Mauldin articulated, "Our hands are tied when it comes to issuing an official burn ban due to state law," he still emphasizes the urgency of individual responsibility. "But we want to make it absolutely clear that conditions right now are extremely dangerous. We urge everyone to take every possible precaution to prevent wildfires," Mauldin told Cleveland County's official communications.
The legal implications of disregarding the threats are stark; per state law 2 O.S. § 16-28.1, landowners can face serious consequences for the willful or negligent ignition of forests, grass, or cropland without adhering to preventative measures and proper notification, any individuals who provoke fire damage onto another's property risk facing civil liabilities, and committing such offenses could result in felony charges, punishable by up to three years in prison along with a fine of $1,000, as reported by the Cleveland County.
The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated as Mauldin makes a strong appeal to all residents urging them to abstain from any open burning activities that include the disposal of trash through fire, the clearing of grass or debris, as well as the setting up of recreational fires like campfires or bonfires, for as long as the Red Flag Warning remains in place; their community's safety hangs in the balance on everyone's willingness to exercise restraint and caution during these perilous times, as per the Cleveland County.
